Buckle



Dec. 29, 1936. H. MADER 2,065,946

BUCKLE Filed March 20, 1934 Patented Dec. 29, 1936 it F BUCKLE Application March 20, 1934, Serial No. 715,457

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in fasteners or buckles designed for the retention and adjustable anchoring of straps in belts, collars, harnesses and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a structurally simple and ornamental buckle adapted to securely fasten the free end of a. strap in one of several positions.

With this and other objects in View, a feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a buckle body having a substantially closed front portion suited for the reception of engraving or marking, and provided with a tongue opening and spring detent. The body is designed for the sliding reception of a free strap end behind the front plate, with holes in the strap registering with the opening in the plate, and is provided at one side with a pintle for anchoring the opposite end of the strap or belt, and serving as the pivot point for a tongue member which, in closed position, projects through the opening in the strap, the opening in the plate engaging with the springpressed detent for locking the tongue in closed position. The tongue may be conveniently pro- Vided with a closed eye or loop which projects through the front plate and serves for the reception of a locking device such as the bail of a pad-lock or the like.

Still further features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a perspective of a dog collar employing my new and improved buckle; Fig. 2 is a cross-section illustrating the buckle in open position anchored to one end of the collar; Fig. 3 is a somewhat similar view illustrating the buckle in closed position with the free end of the collar retained thereby; and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sections on the lines 44 and 55, respectively, of Fig. 2.

The present invention as shown in its illustrated embodiment is designed for use with dog collars, where the simplicity of the locking device and the ornamental appearance of the buckle front is particularly desirable. In its application to this form of article, the collar is indicated generally at It], and is anchored to the buckle at one end through a loop 12, permanently closed by stitching or otherwise, and passing about the pintle rod ii. The buckle comprises a curved body portion I6 formed generally as a stamping,

and having a generally closed front plate i8 and sides 2t terminating in separated tabs 22 to provide a closed passage or hous ng for the sliding reception of the free collar end M. The pivot pintle it is supported at opposite ends in offset slot 32 formed in the front plate, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. In completely closed position an eye St formed in the end of the tongue projects through the front plate from behind for the reception of a pad-lock or similar device. The tongue may also be provided with a shoulder 36 which engages with the portion 38 of a detent spring 48 to limit further closing movement of the tongue. In this position the convex curvature 32 of the tongue resists disengagement of the tongue from the opening in the buckle body, and effectually maintains the buckle in closed position for all ordinary uses without the necessity of inserting a pad-lock or similar device 'therethrough. On the other hand, the buckle may be readily opened by pressure upon the outwardly extending end of the tongue which projects through the front face of the buckle. It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the end of the tongue having the eye 36 is disposed at an acute angle to the length of the tongue in such a manner that the tongue when in closed position engages the free end of the collar at the apex of the angle, and pulling upon the free end of the collar does not result in a wedging action tending to disengage the tongue. Furthermore, the lengthwise portion of the tongue lies in the slot formed by the separated tabs 22 without any substantial projection therebeyond.

As is usual in devices of this character, the free end of the collar may be provided with a series of openings 58 designed for engagement by the tongue, and the free end beyond the buckle may be retained by a loop 52 made of material similar to that of the belt.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention indicates clearly the attractive nature of the buckle and the provision of the front plate of the buckle body for the reception of any suitable marking, as by engraving or otherwise.

The detent spring is conveniently retained in closed position by a curled-over flange 54, formed leash. In addition, the retention of the free strap end by the buckle itself dispenses with the employment of one of the two leather loops commonly necessary. With the present construc- 1 tion the front face of the buckle body provides space for the reception of the owners name and license number, and the closed end of the tongue projecting therethrough may be employed for the attachment of a leash or the like. What isl'claimed is; V r 1. A buckle comprising a body portion having 'a front plate provided With a tongue opening,

a tongue pivoted, behind the front plate and providedwith a free end forming a closed loop designed to enter the tongue opening from the rear and project therebeyond at the front of the plate when the tongue is closed, and spring detent means cooperating with the free end of the tongue for engagement therewith to hold the latter within the opening, the projecting closed loop of the tongue being designed for the reception of a leash or padlock bail to prevent withdrawal of the tongue. 7

2. A buckle suitable for application to dog collars or the like comprising a buckle body enclosing a space corresponding generally in crosssection to that of the collar and designed for skilled in the art sliding reception of the free end of the collar, the buckle body having a substantially closed front plate with a tongue opening therein with side flanges terminating in .inturned and separated tabs, a tongue mounted behind the front therewith, the tongue having a free end portion terminating in a closed loop disposed at an angle with respect to the length of' the tongue and designed to project through the opening in the plate of the buckle and pivotally connected" front plate when the tongue is closed and to be engaged therebeyond by any suitable instrumentality, the opening in the free end of the collar engaging in the'angle formed by the closed end of the tongue, and means connected with the front plate for retaining the tongue in closed position with the free end projecting outwardly therefrom.

3. A buckle suitable for application to dog collars or the like comprising a generally'curved body rectangular in cross-section to'p'rovide for sliding reception of the collar and having a front plate imperforate except for the provision of a tongue opening with side portions terminating in inturned but separated tabs to provide a central slot for reception of a tongue, a tongue pivoted to the buckle behind the front plate and 7 having an end portion forming 'a closed loop and disposed at an acute angle to the length of the tongue, the end portion being designedto project through the tongue opening and cause the closed loop to project beyond the plate at the front of the buckle for engagement of a suitable instrumentality, the length of the tongue being received in the slot behind the inwardly projecting tabs at the back of the buckle.

LEWIS H. MADER. 

